27 November 2020
- Amelia Womack: “We are determined to ensure that we offer wetland birds the same protections that other EU countries do after Brexit”
The Green Party has joined conservation groups across Europe in welcoming the passage of legislation to ban the use of lead shot in wetlands [1], something the party has long campaigned for. [2]
Green Party deputy leader Amelia Womack said:
“We are delighted that European wetland birds will now be protected from a slow and painful death from lead poisoning. We see this as a first step towards a total ban on lead ammunition.
“As much as 21 to 27,000 tonnes of highly toxic lead is dispersed into the EU environment per year by game shooters but much of it is swallowed by birds like ducks and swans that were not their original targets leading to the deaths of more than a million birds a year.” [2]
Since lead in petrol was banned, lead in shot is now the single biggest source of emission of lead to the environment every year.
Before the ban comes into force, the two motions will now need to be passed by the Council of the EU, a process which should only be a formality.
Womack said:
“Although the agreement of the EU Council is only a formality, if it does not occur before 31 December then this law will not automatically become UK law. We are determined to ensure that we offer wetland birds the same protections that other EU countries do after Brexit, especially when these birds are migratory and so not permanently resident in any particular European country.”
The Green Party is fundamentally opposed to all blood-sports. It opposes the killing of, or infliction of pain or suffering upon, animals in the name of sport or leisure, and will work to end all such practices.
ENDS
Notes
1
2
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas sponsored an EDM to ban the sale, possession and use of all lead ammunition across the UK in January 2019
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